Lone Wolf Rising (Paranormal Romantic Thriller) (The Winters Series)

by Jami Brumfield

  ~Clara Ortega

  Savannah

  Savannah stared after her sister, speechless from the admission. What in the world did Superstition Mountain have to do with our parents’ deaths? They died over ten years ago in a carjacking on the way to pick them up from a sleepover only a few blocks away from their Scottsdale home. The police were never able to find out who did it because it was such a random crime. It was classified as a mugging gone terribly wrong. Their deaths were horrible tragedies, nothing else. That had to be the truth, otherwise the shaky foundation she had built all these years was going to crumble and fall apart.

  Savvy wanted to ask Rebecca more about her mysterious behavior, the pain, and the disconnection she felt last night, but Hunter needed a ride to football practice, and she had already told him she would do it. Besides, she was going to be late for cheerleading practice. Hunter cornered her in the kitchen when she came home, moments after she discovered Rebecca had come home and lied about where she was last night. She would finish the questioning later. She was just thankful Becca was safe and alive for now. But she wouldn't stay that way for long if she didn't tell her the truth.

  The lies Rebecca told did little to quell the feeling that something terrible was going on and things were not going to be right between them for a very long time; at least not until she told the whole truth. Rebecca’s aversion tactics weren’t going to work on Savvy and Becks knew it. They never had in the past so why she thought they would now was beyond Savannah. For better or worse, they were twins, closer than most, and she knew when Rebecca was avoiding her and only giving half truths. This was one of those times.

  What added more urgency to the issue was that she knew it had to be something major for Becca to hide it from her. Since their parents’ deaths she had been overly honest, almost to a fault. There was a handful of times that she could remember when Rebecca lied and those were silly things; like knowing about the surprise party for their 16th birthday. If history was a testament to Becca’s honesty, she only lied to protect the people she loved. Even the surprise party was her attempt to not spoil the experience for her. She told Savvy afterwards she was envious that she got to be surprised and that her stubbornness caused her to ruin it for herself. Protection was always her motive, which only made Savvy wonder what trouble Becca had gotten herself into and how she was going to be able to save her from herself and her crazy notion of protecting her family.

  Sometimes Savvy wondered if Becca was born in the wrong era. Perhaps she was a knight of the round table in Camelot in a previous life. The idea made her chuckle. Rebecca as a man was funny in itself, but seeing her fighting against evil forces was not necessarily something Becks would be good at. Her sister avoided physical activity at all costs, except running. She loved running. Savvy was convinced Becca loved running because she was running away from something.

  Regardless, Rebecca knew shutting her out was not a very smart idea. In fact, when she’d done it in the past it became hazardous. Why she thought this situation would be any different was beyond her. Her actions would simply drive her to become a detective and find out the truth without her help. She hated being sneaky around Rebecca but sometimes her sister needed more help then she knew and it was those times that Savvy needed to step in and help. The only fear Savvy had was that she would find out a truth that she wouldn’t want to know. But her desire to protect her sister was stronger than her fear.

  “Savvy, come on. We’re going to be late.” Hunter knocked tentatively on the closed door.

  “I’m coming.” She took a quick look in the mirror, brushed on a little foundation, slid on some pink lip gloss and brown mascara to hide the puffy eyes and evidence that she had been crying. After a quick fluff of the hair and one last satisfied look in the mirror she left the room and allowed the space between her and her sister to grow, at least for the moment.

  Hunter was a year younger than the girls and they really babied their little brother. Savannah often wondered how it was that he turned out so big and strong. He tried to be their protector despite being younger. Just like Rebecca, she would do anything for him, including taking him to get his driver’s license next week. Soon he would know the freedom that came along with driving a car and maybe he would finally get the courage to ask the neighbor girl, Natalia, out on a date. She was sure Natalia would accept. Maybe what they needed was a little matchmaking. She was good at making matches for other people. So far, she had personally helped seven couples find happiness. Why shouldn’t she do the same for her brother?

  “Do you have your permit?” She asked, knowing the answer already. He never went anywhere without it.

  “Yep.” He patted his bright red duffel bag with a prideful grin. It was nice when he smiled, he seemed to light up the room every time. Her brother was very attractive and far more charismatic than she or Rebecca would ever be.

  Without saying anything she handed him the keys and gave him a radiant smile. He was a pretty good driver, but still needed plenty of practice. Rebecca and Savvy would insure he got it before his actual test date.

  “Really?” His ice blue eyes, just like hers, like everyone in the house, lit up like lights on a holiday tree. It was so genuine she couldn’t help but chuckle a little.

  “Just don’t kill me. I really want to attend homecoming this weekend.”

  He snatched the keys before saying, “depends on who you plan on going with. I may have to put you out of your misery.” The grin didn't leave his face, even though she knew he had a point.

  She had two offers and had yet to decide who to accept; Jason Montgomery or Danny Carter. They were both decent guys, Danny was the team captain and Quarterback of the football team and Jason was the class president and captain of the chess team. As the head cheerleader, it should be an easy decision, but that changed when Rebecca told her the only reason Danny asked was because it was expected. He was cute, but according to Hunter, he was a total jerk. Jason, on the other hand, was intelligent and a great friend. Danny assured the crown and Jason assured a good time. If this was not senior year she was sure her decision would have been Jason, but because this was the last chance she had to be homecoming queen the decision was far more difficult. She knew if she chose Danny the crown was guaranteed, but she would be letting down both Rebecca and Hunter.

  “I am leaning towards Danny.” She teased Hunter; she really hadn’t decided either way.

  Hunter stopped on the stairs and looked at her with a very serious expression. “It’s your choice, sis, but just know he is a total douche bag when you’re not around. My vote, if it counts, is for Jason.”

  “Your vote always counts, little brother." She ruffled his golden hair with her fingers. “But there are more things at stake than simply having a good time.”

  “I understand, but…” He started his argument, but she interrupted him.

  "Come on, let’s go.” She raced him down the stairs and to the car, winning only because she got the head start. They had come a long way since their parents’ deaths. For years, they were grief-stricken and laughter was not even a word in their vocabulary, let alone something they did. But now, ten years later, they were actually a functioning family with good and bad days. She still cried once in a while, and she knew Hunter still had nightmares, but they were rare. The good far outweighed the bad. They managed to fight their way out of depression and found a way to enjoy their high school experience; found a way to be normal teenagers. The carjackers may have stolen their parents but Savvy made sure they didn’t take away their childhood.

  The pain never really went away, it simply dulled over time. The wounds still existed, but a scab grew over it and eventually left a slight scar on their souls. She knew they held onto their loss, but with every day it got better; just a little bit. That’s why Rebecca’s last words to her were so disturbing. Why was she investigating their deaths? Digging into the tragedy was only going to reopen wounds that were better left closed.

  Chapter Four


  “Guard well within yourself that treasure, kindness. Know how to give without hesitation, how to lose without regret, how to acquire without meanness.”

  ~George Sand

  Rebecca

  After Rebecca showered, she decided she it was time to find Dianna and make sure she wasn’t missing anything. Last night was strange and she wasn’t able to explain it away as another test. The wolves gave her so many tests, horrible tests. Tests that even now made her shiver with dread and brought back vivid memories of deadly snake beds, nights alone in the woods with no shelter or water, sweat lodges, and blood rituals. It was like they wanted to make sure she was brave enough to become one of them. She knew from those tests she needed to be strong to survive in their world. The difference was last night she became one of them so the testing period was over.

  Even if last night was a test, it was over. Today, the lack of contact was becoming a mystery and she was beginning to get worried. She had no idea why she hadn't seen or heard from her sponsor or any other wolf on the street since the full moon. The worry was beginning to turn into anger and she was starting to feel abandoned. After a fourth call she decided it was time she went to find Dianna herself. Wolves are pack animals by instinct. The fact that she felt left out in the cold with no one only made her anxious as a spark of fear started to ignite from the center of her soul.

  Finding Dianna was a harder task than she realized. She started her search at the soup kitchen that Dianna worked at, the place they got to know each other. No one had seen her for days which was completely out of character. Dianna loved her work at the shelter. There was little that would keep her from helping the less fortunate.

  Then she decided to check out the Underground. It was a well-known werewolf hangout. One half of the establishment was a restaurant and the other half contained a fighting ring. Both sides of the place were practically empty. It was like she walked into a ghost town and even the ghosts decided not to show up for the day. Needless to say, it was a new level of weird.

  When she tried to ask if anyone had seen Dianna, or any other member of the pack for that matter, people simply shrugged and walked off. It was like no one wanted to get involved. She imagined this was what a cop felt like when they walked into an establishment that was not too friendly towards the law. But she was not a cop; she was a member of the pack, a pack that appeared to disappear into thin air.

  While the majority of the pack members, including Dianna, lived in the Phoenix area the main pack compound was located on top of Mount Lemmon in Tucson. She had convinced herself Dianna and the rest of the pack decided to run through that mountain instead of the Superstitions. She tried to calm her nerves by telling herself that it was a simple misunderstanding, but the nagging feeling in the back of her mind did little to quell the anxiety her wolf was creating inside.

  'Are you ready to let me help you yet?'

  'No!' Rebecca answered with unease. This was all new to her but she was sure that once she found the pack they would help her understand what was going on.

  'That's what I'm trying to tell...'

  Rebecca started shaking her head and humming an irritating tune that she made up to cover the words coming from inside her head. She was not ready to deal with this. 'I swear if you don't leave me alone I will find a way to shut you up.' Rebecca snapped. Even as she said the words she knew it was impossible. If she hurt the wolf in her mind she would be hurting herself. She was not a masochist. Regardless, the wolf receded. She felt her go into a corner of her mind where the wolf was making a nest. She could feel the wolf's displeasure and irritation but didn't care.

  Visiting the compound was like killing two birds with one stone; she’d get a little exercise and would at least see one other werewolf if not Dianna. Access to the compound was complicated. She had to park her car at one of the camp sites and hike in to the actual location. The excess energy that was building up inside her helped her decide to run at least part of the hike uphill. Running was her favorite exercise. It was the only exercise she really got. She wasn’t sure why, but she figured she loved running because of the freedom it gave her. But after all the running she got last night, she would have assumed she would be tired and uninterested in running today.

  There was never a more freeing feeling than the sound of nature crunching beneath her tennis shoes and the fresh air offering a gentle breeze to keep her skin cool. She could feel and taste the moisture on the air, something she got very little of in Phoenix.

  The weather on Tucson Mountain was much more humid compared to the dry air in Phoenix. The mountain actually had green trees and foliage. The wildlife was active and started to become a distraction for her overactive senses. Dianna taught her that wild animals react with curiosity and fear towards werewolves, especially while they were in human form. ‘We confuse their senses; they have no idea why the scent of a wolf would be in human packaging’. When Dianna told Rebecca about that reaction she was reminded of that old story about 'wolves in sheep’s clothing'. She always believed that myths had at least a kernel of truth. Now that she was a werewolf she realized there was a lot to that theory.

  In the distance, the scent of a predator caught her attention; its mistake was tracking her upwind. She stopped running and took cover, watching the horizon for any sign of the elusive predator. There was no movement. No sign that someone was lurking in the woods, following her. After a few minutes of surveying the horizon she realized the scent’s original location did not change so Rebecca decided to go find it. As she got closer she realized it was a vampire. The scent of a vampire was ingrained in her DNA. The half rotting flesh assaulted her nose and the coppery scent of blood gave her pause. The scents on the wind made it clear it was an injured vampire.

  'What would a vampire be doing so close to the wolf compound?' She asked her wolf telepathically.

  The wolf snarled coldly. ‘Let’s see how you do in this situation without my help.' The wolf snapped in her mind. "It seems to me someone backed into a corner would take help when offered.'

  'Maybe I'll consider that when I feel like I am backed in a corner!' Rebecca snapped again, irritated the wolf goaded her into talking to her.

  "Like your condescending attitude helps. I wouldn't ask you for help if I was desperate!" She muttered quietly, sarcastically, as she continued her forward trek to the compound ducking for cover as best she could whenever the scent of the vampire came upon the wind. The key was remaining downwind so she did not alert the vampire to her presence. The entire situation was surreal; surely the vampire knew it was in wolf territory. Surely the vampire knew it was in danger.

  Vampires and werewolves were always at war. Some ancient history that dated back to the beginning of both races was the cause. From what she gathered, the vampires had enslaved the first werewolves and were brutally abusive. Self preservation became ingrained in the wolf DNA which transferred to the human host.

  Dianna said that once she was a wolf she would be a target to vampires and she would grow to hate them as well as their ancestors. Rebecca supposed it was a natural defense mechanism, this hatred, warning the wolf of danger, and set up to remind that a werewolf’s most dangerous enemy was, and would always be, the vampire. The war that was brewing on the streets of Arizona showed evidence of how precarious the situation was becoming. It was normal news to hear of murders on both sides of the battle weekly. Unfortunately, that very war was the reason why she was able to convince the wolves to let her become one of them.

  As she neared the vampire she finally understood the unnatural, instinctual hatred toward the creature. It boiled in her veins. The very idea of being close to one made her skin crawl with thousands of tiny, biting bugs.

  Her senses were on high alert with every rustle of leaves from the wind, chirp from a bird, and scurry from a wild animal. She was ready to pounce. Logically she knew that seeking out the injured vampire was a fairly stupid plan since werewolves are no match for vampires in human form. The best she could hope for was to
injure it further so that she could carry the creature to the compound. It wasn’t like the vampire would go with her willingly. From what she understood, vampires felt the same way about wolves.

  If she was a remotely smart wolf she would run in the opposite direction; heed the instinct that was screaming in her head to leave. But for one fault; she was loyal. If a vampire was on the wolf compound, even an injured vampire, it meant trouble for her pack. The pack was now her extended family. She had no choice but to press forward and pray she made the right decision.

  As she crested the top of the hill she heard the vampire moan in agony. It was a slight sound but her ears picked it up instantly. She spun around, ready to fight. What she saw was unexpected. A young, female vampire was crouched under a bush only a few feet away from her. The coppery scent of blood was sickly and sulfuric. The close proximity sent her fight or flight response into overdrive.

  Humans think vampires are unable to be out in direct sunlight which is actually a misconception; another scary myth that developed from a kernel of truth. They will not burn under the sun, but they do look different in the daylight. Their skin is pale, which makeup can help conceal and sunscreen can help protect from the sun’s rays. Their eyes are brighter, almost iridescent compared to a human’s, but with modern technology that can be fixed with contact lenses. According to Dianna they also have sharp, elongated incisors; only these can be retracted when not in use. Technically, a vampire, when it wants to remain hidden among the human population, has very little trouble doing so; unless they are injured like this one. Even without her superhuman senses she would have recognized the girl as a vampire.

  The vampire’s gut was slashed open, but she was attempting to heal. Cuts covered her milky white skin from head to toe. The progressive healing ability was something they possessed, just as wolves. It was uncommon to see one injured to the point that it was having difficulty healing.